Frustration With Napping

[KarenP]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site and have just booked myself on the novice clicker training clinic in October.  I have been reading through some of your queries and replies and it 'enlightens' me that everyone is so willing to help each other out.

I've been working with a riding school cob since he was broken 3 years ago and it has become apparent to myself and his owner just how intelligent this horse actually is, but within his intelligence he has developed a power over me to nap when out on hacks and not even an artic-lorry will budge him once he's stopped, let alone little me with legs muscles the size of 'peas!!'

I'm very interested in the C/T method of nurturing a horses' intelligence in the positive, but have also read some comments on this forum about the possibility of clicker training masking over the original problem instead of resolving it.  Therefore, although I still intend to come on the course, as this kind of positive use of intelligence can only be enriching for the horse generally, I am wondering if there is any other form of training that would be more suited to my/our problem?

Any thoughts?
Karen  

[Heather]

Hi Karen and welcome to EE!

As you are not far away, Becky comes out to do home visits and this may well be what would help you most, after the CT workshop. Don't  be afraid to ask her questions on the day- it will also be interesting for others on the workshop. Becky is going to be away for the next week and hasnt always access to a computer, but I willl tell her you have posted this. I am going to move this topic to the CT forum, in case you think I have deleted it!!!

Look forward to meeting you-

Heather

[Becky holden]

Hi Karen
 

I'm very interested in the C/T method of nurturing a horses' intelligence in the positive, but have also read some comments on this forum about the possibility of clicker training masking over the original problem instead of resolving it.

It is true that its wrong to just mask over a problem, this i feel is what many other methods in fact do. With clicker training the emphasis is getting your horse to "WANT" to obey and do as we ask rather than being forced to do as we ask. As With a horse that likes to say "NO" from time to time i find the clicker has the greatest effect channeling their stubborn streak in to a want to learn and try. I have never known CT to mask over a problem and not resolve it, unless of course the problem is due to ill fitting tack or poor riding which nothing will mask over. But CT can have a great effect to help with the memory of pain and i found breaking things up into stages helped my riding!!


Look forward to meeting you

Becky